Cellular & Wireless Glossary

Bluetooth: Technology designed specifically for short-range wireless communications of 10 meters or fewer. The name refers to a Viking King who unified Denmark. Operates at 2.4 GHz. Bluetooth will utilize inexpensive transceiver chips, which will be placed inside smart phones, laptop computers and other portable devices.

Broadband: Using a wide-bandwidth channel for voice, data and/or video services.

Broadcast: Delivery of a transmission to two or more stations at the same time such as over a bus-type local network or by satellite; or b) Protocol mechanism whereby group and universal addressing are supported.

BTA (Basic Trading Area): A geographic region defined by a group of counties that surround a city, which is the area's basic trading center. The boundaries of each BTA were formulated by Rand McNally & Co. and are used by the FCC determine service areas for PCS wireless licenses. The entire US and some of its territories is divided into 493 non-overlapping BTAs.